Overview
Rockfield Lake covers 38 hectares (94 acres) on the border between County Cavan and County Leitrim, about 2.5 miles east of Carrigallen and a few miles from Killeshandra and Arvagh. The Cullies River (Irish: An Abhainn Dubh) flows in at the southern end and out at the north-west, eventually draining into Lough Oughter and the wider Erne system. The lake sits low among the drumlins, reaches 11 metres (36 feet) deep at its southern end, and spreads across three townlands – two in Cavan, one in Leitrim.
There are no facilities here and no waymarked trails, and that is the point. You come to fish, or to walk a quiet shore for half an hour on a longer drive through the lakelands.
Angling
Rockfield is a coarse fishery, holding bream, roach, tench, pike and perch. The eastern, Cavan-side shore is the most accessible: a paved lane runs off the L1524 sideroad down to a small public car park close to the water, and the margins here fish well with pole or light feeder tackle in the warmer months. The National Coarse Fishing Federation of Ireland lists it as a match venue, so you may share it with a club event now and then, particularly in autumn when the pike are most active.
There is no permit charge, but a valid Inland Fisheries Ireland licence is required for angling. Local tackle shops in Carrigallen are the best source of current catch reports and bait advice before you set out.
Walking and wildlife
The paved lane from the L1524 continues as a level path along the eastern shore – an easy stretch of the legs for families or anyone breaking a journey. The shoreline is mostly unmodified, with reeds and grasses running down to open water, and herons, coots and the occasional kingfisher working the margins. On a clear day the drumlins catch the light and the slow curve of the Cullies River leaving the lake makes for a calm, reflective walk.
Getting there and practical info
Rockfield Lake lies just south of the R201, the road linking Carrigallen and Killeshandra, with access via the signposted L1524 sideroad down to the eastern shore. The lane is fine for standard cars and small trailers, but the car park holds only a handful of vehicles, so arrive early on a weekend or in peak angling season. There are no toilets, shops or refreshments at the lake – stock up in Carrigallen or Killeshandra first. The exposed drumlin country means weather can move through fast, so bring a layer and check the forecast.
Nearby
Two smaller lakes sit on the same Cullies River chain: tiny Portlongfield Lake immediately north, separated from Rockfield by a low hillock, and Drumhart Lake to the south – both quiet stretches of water for anglers wanting to keep exploring. Near Portlongfield stands Portlongfield Orange Hall, built around 1890. Carrigallen itself is worth a stop for its Georgian streetscape, its courthouse and a few independent cafés, while Killeshandra to the south is the gateway to the Lough Oughter lakelands and Killykeen Forest Park.